Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spur-winged Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 188 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Vanellus
- Species spinosus
Where it lives
Eastern Greece (southeastern Europe), Turkey, Cyprus, Middle East to southwestern Iran and Arabian Pen.; Mauritania to Nigeria and east to Eritrea, Somalia, northern in Sudan and Egypt to Nile Delta; south to Zambia and Malawi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 188 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spur-winged Lapwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spur-winged Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF e Greece (se Europe), Turkey, Cyprus, Middle East to sw Iran and Arabian Pen.; Mauritania to Nigeria and e to Eritrea, Somalia, n in Sudan and Egypt to Nile Delta; s to Zambia and Malawi.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 188 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spur-winged Lapwing?
The Spur-winged Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 188 g.
Where does the Spur-winged Lapwing live?
The Spur-winged Lapwing is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF e Greece (se Europe), Turkey, Cyprus, Middle East to sw Iran and Arabian Pen.; Mauritania to Nigeria and e to Eritrea, Somalia, n in Sudan and Egypt to Nile Delta; s to Zambia and Malawi, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spur-winged Lapwing belong to?
The Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Spur-winged Lapwing eat?
The Spur-winged Lapwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Spur-winged Lapwing migrate?
The Spur-winged Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spur-winged Lapwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Spur-winged Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Spur-winged Lapwing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spur-winged Lapwing's range?
The Spur-winged Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 8.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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